Canon ip5000 prints colour fine but won't print black. There is plenty of ink in the cartridges and I did a deep clean for back, but it still won't work.

Solutions List:

• Perform deep print head cleaning (Mac OS 9) iP3000/iP4000/iP5000
• Perform deep print head cleaning (Mac OS X) iP4000/iP5000
• Move printer from strong light source
• Replace ink tank(s) iP4000/ iP4000R / iP5000
• Load Letter size paper into the Rear Tray (Automatic Sheet Feeder)
• Snap in ink tanks properly iP4000 / iP5000

If you need more help come back.Post / thumbs / testimonial are welcome!

Here is the link to the user guide if you need it; http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=SupportDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=257&modelid=10439 If you have performed all the operations in there with no success, then the part of the printhead that is under the 6bk has some blockages. This is best cleaned by dripping some ink flush solution (use gin if you have none) into the print head from above (just at the point where the hole on the ink cartridge would sit. Very gently swab with a q-tip from below with more fluid. After a day or so with the fluid penetrating from the top, clean the bottom again, clean out any excess fluid you can from the top (don't get any q-tip fluff in there). Then run a clean/test again. Hopefully this can solve your problem after a few cleans, but blocked Canon printheads are not always unblockable. You can purchase the complete replacement printhead, although I wasn't able to find a price - this link for service; http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ServiceLocatorAct&fcategoryid=184&modelid=10439 Hope this helps :)

You need to replace the print head to fix the problem. You can't let ink printers sit for years. Especially when the print head is a part of the printer and not the cartridge.

Hello,
are your rubber washers still in place? Are you using OEM cartridges or refilled?

Think you need to clean the sponge that the ink cartridges sit on in the head tray they are probably blocked with dry ink. You can remove the print head and tray by lifting the lever and gently lifting it out..... go here http://www.inkjethelper.com/
to see how to carefully clean it with compressed air. I had to do this too.

Ink blockage between tank and printhead. Take out colour tanks and clean. with cartridge flushing agent in a spare tank, or do them all at the same time with cartridge flushing liquit.

see if this link helps you find out why.
MP520 won print black ink Google Search

try taking the cartridge out and cleaning it then replace it after that unplug it for a couple minutes and then plug it back in and let me know what happens

I'm sure a gremlin fixed it, because I have no idea....

I had this problem. If I tried to print a black& white photo on to glossy paper, it would only print green. When I tried on to plain paper using the 'fast' option, it printed in black. The reason for this is, on plain paper it uses the black cartridge, but output to glossy photo paper using the 'high' option, uses the mix of colours in your colour cartridge. If one or more of your colours has run out, you will get a print with the ink left in the cartridge. Replace the cartridge or refill it & your problem is solved.